Soul Man (1986)
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14% of critics liked it
(22 reviews) -
36% of users liked it
(6,757 ratings)
An ambitious but spoiled rich white kid wins a scholarship to Harvard Law School by pretending to be African-American in this broadly played comedy. After his father cuts him off financially, Mark Watson (C. Thomas Howell) wins a full tuition scholarship to Harvard by claiming to be African-American… More An ambitious but spoiled rich white kid wins a scholarship to Harvard Law School by pretending to be African-American in this broadly played comedy. After his father cuts him off financially, Mark Watson (C. Thomas Howell) wins a full tuition scholarship to Harvard by claiming to be African-American on the application form. With the help of his best friend, Gordon (Arye Gross), Mark acquires some bronzing pills, a new hairdo, and a lowered voice. Disguised as a black student, Mark thinks that he's going to breeze through the program. The reality of being a minority at a mostly white institution quickly catches up to him, however, when he encounters some tacit racism and falls for Sarah Walker (Rae Dawn Chong), a fellow student whose affection makes him feel guilty about his ruse. Then there's the imperious Professor Banks (James Earl Jones), an African-American instructor who expects him to perform at a higher level than the other students. Soul Man was written by Carol Black and directed by Steve Miner, who would collaborate again for the popular television series The Wonder Years (1988-1993). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Directed By
- Steve Miner
- Genres
- Comedy
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- Oct 24, 1986 Wide
- On DVD
- Mar 19, 2002
- Studio
- New World Video
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
This social farce is excellently written, fast paced and intelligently directed.
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, Time Out
In the end, however, it's let down by one easy laugh too many.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
It's a blithe, silly, good-natured movie and, of its kind, quite an enjoyable one.
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Paul Attanasio, Washington Post
The pity is, it isn't even outrageous.
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Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Of course, simply everyone is completely bamboozled by our hero's disguise, even though he now looks like a Ken doll with liver disease.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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C. Thomas Howell
as Mark Watson
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Arye Gross
as Gordon Bloomfield
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Rae Dawn Chong
as Sarah Walker
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James Earl Jones
as Prof. Banks
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Melora Hardin
as Whitney Dunbar
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James B. Sikking
as William Watson
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Leslie Nielsen
as Mr. Dunbar
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Max Wright
as Dr. Aronson
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Jeff Altman
as Ray McGrady
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Jonathan [Fudge] Leonard
as George Walker
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus
as Lisa Stinson
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Betty Cole
as Mrs. Walker
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M.C. Gainey
as Man in Cell
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Donald Hotton
as Mr. Wicher
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Amy Stock-Poynton
as Girl in Bed
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Wally Ward
as Barky Brewer
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Jonathan Wise
as Andrew
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Freddie Dawson
as D.J.
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Linda Hoy
as Mrs. Sherwood
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Ann Walker
as Mrs. Dunbar
- Melissa Skoff
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Paul F. O'Brien
as Officer Schkolnick
- David Reynolds
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Paul O'Brien
as Officer Schkolnick
- Wallace Langham
